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Tag Archives: geography

If there’s one thing I hate more than seafood, it’s winter. The sun sets at 4pm, my lips are always chapped, everyone is perpetually sick… even the snow gets a little redundant after Christmas time. Sadly, being a Pennsylvania resident, I have no choice BUT to deal with cold weather. For roughly 4-5 months, too. I’m one of those people who, if the weather isn’t favorable, I don’t go outside unless absolutely necessary. If you don’t see the sun, you certainly won’t see me.

It’s funny how we always see ourselves wanting to be anywhere but where we are. Given, Pennsylvania is a pretty boring place to live, but think about it. When it’s 100 degrees, we want cold air. When I’m glaring at the 6 inches of snow that is currently in my backyard, I’m wishing I was on a beach in Florida.

Give me three weeks in Florida, and I’ll want to be in the mountains.

Give me three weeks in the mountains, and I’ll want to be in the city.

Give me three weeks in the city and I’ll be begging to go home to rural central PA.

We’re always wanting something more. How many times can we confidently and truthfully say we’re 100% happy with where we are? I mean this both literally and metaphorically. We always seem to have something to complain about, don’t we?

Maybe it’s my inner hippie, but I truly believe humans are, physically and mentally, innately nomadic creatures. I believe we’re happiest when we’re traveling and adventuring – exploring every possible reality. I have this intense desire – scratch that – need to travel: I want to see different cultures. I want to see icebergs and canyons. I want to understand how other people think and live.

… And you can guarantee that I plan on seeing as much of this beautiful planet as I can during my time here. But in the meantime, I’m going to enjoyappreciate the snow (by the way, the temperature here is colder than the temperature in Alaska today). I’m going to enjoy the mountains and the one traffic light in my hometown and and the fact that I’ve peed in my best friend’s forest more times than I can count. Because even though I hate snow, have grown immune to the smell of farm, and will swear until I am blue in the face that I hate Schuylkill County, I come from a pretty cool place. I’m living where someone wishes they could live. Someone wants to be here because of what this place has to offer.

And yeah, I’d love to be in Florida or California right now, but you know what? If I was there, I wouldn’t have been able to see this incredible scene tonight.

Know why? Florida doesn’t have blankets of snow. California doesn’t have the Appalachian mountains. And guess what? Pennsylvania (unfortunately) doesn’t have sandy beaches or a constantly warm climate. Or genuine New York pizza. Or Arizona lemon trees. Each country, state, and city is special in it’s own way.

Someone once told me that the world is a book and those who do not explore it read only one page.

Explore your own backyard. Fall in love with everything around you. Then, leave it for someplace new.